Todays links of interest: Tor.com Launches New Online BookstoreWe are so thrilled with the coolness of this. Go, go, go! SS Launches Pulse It, Book Social Networking Site for TeensSS is using the site to help build advance buzz by offering read online reads to members. 5 Ways to Put More Skin in the GameCharlotte Abbott offers up some excellent thoughts on moving forward in publishing. Number two=personal favorite.
Todays links of interest: Publisher of ‘Harry Potter’ denies plagiarismSetting aside the obvious aspect of the headline (what, they’re going to say, Oh yeah, totally plagiarized?), welcome to this week’s lawsuit. The Digital Age and RWA: A Call for ChangeDeidre Knight discusses serious issues relating to digital publishing and the ongoing debate within RWA. How Much Do Novelists Make? (Part 2 of 3)Sadly, not much.
The first thesis of The Cluetrain Manifesto is “markets are conversations”. Stretch, twist, transform, voila!: books are conversations. I was reminded of this last week as fragments of a Twitter discussion caught my eye: a reader and bookseller (both located in different states) engaged in a conversation about buying from local booksellers. The reader noted that while romance readers buy a lot of books, independent booksellers are not always romance-friendly; thus these book buyers go elsewhere. The bookseller said (and I paraphrase), “Hmm. Maybe we could do a better job of attracting these readers.”
Todays links of interest: It’s a bomb from A-Rod: Book sales doing nothingOr, sometimes a story is played out (and public interest lost) long before a book can hit the shelves. 3 Examples of Listening to your CustomersGreat post from Malle Vallik about using social media to listen to customers — and how she learns from them. Guest blogger Max Leone: Max vs. Book Expo America!Next year, we are having Max Leone accompany Kirk Biglione and Brian OLeary during BEA. They need someone with the presence of mind to avoid the pirates.
Ann Kirschner, after reading Little Dorritt in four different formats: Oh boy, have I had a lot of arguments along the way to the marriage of Little Dorrit and her long-suffering beau, Arthur Clennam! Readers are passionate and opinionated advocates for their preferred formats. Flip announced that she reads only hardcovers; end of conversation. “I get it,” said Bill, watching me read on the iPhone: “You like your books little.” Bob is no Luddite, but he insists that Steve Jobs has bribed me, since the Kindle is so obviously superior. Just wait for the Apple tablet,” advises techno-sage Joe. And
Todays links of interest: David Graham next out at GrantaThey come, they go. What’s up with Granta these days? The Blurb SolutionA feel-good story about an up-and-coming poet and Blurb. KindlingMark Sarvas notes, yay!, it’s all about the reader, not the format.
While it can seem like the move to digital is the only topic consuming publishing industry, online marketing has resurfaced as a trending topic. Once the province of display ads (with a few wild experiments with the evil pop-ups!), online marketing is now, for better or worse, all about social media. Your MySpace, your Facebook, your Twitter. Just as when the blog craze hit (remember when everybody had to have one, even if the reason wasn’t clear?), social media mania is filling the halls of the publishing business. It’s not a bad thing. Because, social media (and marketing) is, at
Todays links of interest: How I follow 1700 people on Twitter in only 20 minutes a dayAnn Kingman talks about how she manages her large number of followers. We remain in awe of her amazing talent!
Todays links of interest: Google Enters the Ebook MarketAt Dear Author, Jane contemplates the entry of Google into the book market and what it means. Soapbox: How to Be A Great Local AuthorThe scary part of reading this is that, one suspects, each commandment is based on a true story. BookCamp Toronto reportPost BookCamp Toronto, Liza Daly wonders why we aren’t hearing more questions about how to make the digital process better and less expensive.
Todays links of interest: Readerville 2000-2009, Thanks for the MemoriesReaderville closes the doors, but the great writers continue on. We’ll miss this site!
